Report:
11-20-10
Yes, we had a long and extra hot summer, but for every negative there is always a positive. The positive being that the cooler weather this year has been offering some of the best fishing I have seen in years.

Let's start with today’s inshore fishing trip with Bryan Clark, Timothy (T.J.) Bullard, Willie McNeil, Brandon Oxendine, Randel Jacobs from Red Springs,NC andJimmy Locklear from Shannon,NC.
To say that the Blue Fish and Black Bass are near shore now would be putting it mildly. We were hoping to catch some Grey Trout and Red Drum, but we couldn't get through the Blues and Bass!!!

No one was disappointed though, we were catching fish as fast as we could catch them and it didn't take long to limit out on the Blue Fish and we got several limits of the very delectable Black Sea Bass as well, and some of the Bass were indicative in size to what we catch offshore.
Jimmy even had a nice Flounder on the hook, but it managed to pull free before we could get it to the boat!!

Gag Grouper were caught as well, but weren't big enough to qualify as keepers!!!

I know that Red Drum and Grey Trout are being caught now, we just couldn't get a bait down to them before it was attacked by something else. I'll take that problem every day and never complain!!!!!
All I can say is that we had a great day of fishing/catching and with a group of guys that made the trip even more fun.
I have a lot of people ask me why and make fun of us for keeping sharks. Well, I guess if you don't know how to handle them by "field dressing" them then the next best thing to do is make fun of someone that does know how. Through many years of experience, we have learned how to properly do this, they will not stink and the meat will be odor free and the taste is very good!!
I have quite a few fishermen that are glad we know how to handle these fish for the table.

Don't just take my word for it....Check back to a reply in the "GUESTBOOK" by Joe West's fish fry and also here's an e-mail I just recently got. These two replies will just support what I say:

Hey Capt. Butch,
Just wanted to let you know that we finally had a chance to try the shark that my girlfriend caught back in Oct., and I must say I was very impressed with it. It was delicious!!! Thanks again for a great trip and a great experience, and I look forward to booking another one with you soon.

As I said earlier, the hot summer is gone now and the Fall fishing is as good as I have seen it in years.

The Red Drum, Black Drum, Speckled Trout inside is real good now!!!
The King Mackerel offshore bite is getting better everyday. Our normal areas we go to the ESE have been slower than normal so far.
Seems like the best bite lately has been more to the WSW of us. But you can bet the slower than normal bite to the east will be short lived.

Bluefin Tuna have already been sighted near the Shoals as have the big Pogys that these fish follow and feed on. I am expecting this to be one of those banner Bluefin Tuna years if the weather lets us fish!!

Bottom fishing, well anyone that is in the know, knows that cooler months provide great bottom fishing offshore and December, January, and February offer some great near shore fishing for Black Sea Bass!!

Right now, the Gulf Stream is on fire!!!! Wahoo fishing has really turned on with still a few Mahi-Mahi around and you can bet there are some Black Fin Tuna's there as well.

Several Sail Fish have been caught and released lately!!!

I didn't go today, have things here in the office I have to get caught up on, can't put them off any longer.

I have several friends out today that will give me a report on what they do. When I hear from them tonight I will add it here to update you on what's happening with the King Mackerel Bite in our neck of the woods!!!